Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Twelve Days of New Adult Giveaway Hop with Chanel Cleeton and FRENCH KISSED


I have a secret to admit - I'm a virgin to New Adult.  I might be tempted by Chanel Cleeton's FRENCH SCHOOL, Book 3 in the International School Series.  Chanel joins me for a cozy chat ...

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in Asia.

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Chanel Cleeton

Kim:  London! What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell from London?

Chanel: Ooh this is such a hard question for me! Smell is probably the easiest :) I really miss the smell of Shawarma from Ranoush, my favorite Lebanese restaurant in London. I tried Lebanese food for the first time when I moved to London and I fell in love. My favorite sound is probably all the different languages you hear walking down the street. I miss the diversity of being around people from different cultures and getting to learn from their experiences. My favorite sight is probably the hardest. It's such a beautiful city and I have so many memories there. I lived in Kensington for three years, so the neighborhood is probably my favorite sight. It still feels like home :)

Kim:  South Korea! I know it is very different from the US and the UK. Can you share a funny adventure from ROK?

Chanel:  There are SOOO many. The language barrier has really been a challenge, so I'm constantly confused. I think driving has probably been the hardest for me. I was taking my dogs to the vet one time and I took a wrong turn that led to a two hour detour. I ended up driving around a really rural part of Korea and couldn't find anyone to ask for help to figure out where I needed to go. It's funny now, but at the time I was convinced I would never get home!

Kim:  Now that you have a three book series under your belt, what have you learned about publishing, your fans, and yourself as a writer?


Chanel:  This has been the most incredible experience, beyond anything I ever imagined. I don't think you can ever be prepared for the feeling you'll get when you hear from a fan who has loved one of your books. I am so grateful that readers are enjoying these books. I've also been so fortunate to find a wonderful group of bloggers who have really supported each release. Publishing can be a bit of a roller coaster at times, but having great readers and friends make the journey amazing. I've been so surprised by how supportive the writing community is, and have been lucky to find a fabulous group of writer friends who keep me sane. Having a support network of writers in similar stages of their careers is invaluable. I never realized how much I would come to rely on that support.

Kim:  Tell us about your current NA series, International School?

Chanel: My International School series is set at an international university in London. The first two books follow Maggie, an American student, through her first two years at university. She makes an amazing set of friends and finds herself falling for Samir, the half French, half Lebanese boy who is everything she never knew she wanted. Book three, FRENCH KISSED, is the story of Maggie and Samir's best friend, Fleur, finding her own happy ending. It's been a really fun series to write because I attended an international university in London, so in many ways it feels like returning to my roots :)

Kim:  What's next for Chanel Cleeton?

Chanel: FRENCH KISSED is my next release and it will be out December 1st and will wrap up the International School series. After that, I'm SO excited to start a new series set in Washington D.C. The Capital Confessions series is set for three-books and will be released by Penguin/Berkley starting with FLIRTING WITH SCANDAL in May 2015. It's a NA contemporary romance series that combines a coming of age story against steamy backdrop of political scandal and intrigue. Each book can be read as a standalone and the series follows three sisters following their professional dreams.

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Mahalo, Chanel, for your service as a military spouse!   I am giving away "international swag", spanning from London to Korea, to celebrate the release of FRENCH KISSED:

On the surface, Fleur Marceaux has it all. If only the facade matched reality. With one year left at the International School in London, Fleur’s struggling to graduate, her love life is a mess, and she can’t stop thinking about Max, her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. But all that pales compared to the blackmailer determined to destroy her.

There’s a social hierarchy at the International School and Max Tucker is outside the velvet ropes. After watching Fleur break his friend’s heart, Max knows to stay away from trouble, despite the crush he’s had on her since freshman year. But when they’re partnered on a project, Max learns there’s more to Fleur than meets the eye, and she just might be worth the wild ride.

The more time they spend together, the further Max falls. And when a kiss awakens a passion Fleur never imagined, she’s unable to resist Max, who she had thought was all wrong for her but might be the only thing that’s right. But will he stand by her when her secrets are revealed?

Don’t miss the final book in the International School series. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 17 and up.


To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about London, the Caribbean, or South Korea - what do you know about these places?  Have you visited them? 

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 13, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Follow the giveaway hop at this link.   Thanks to Valerie at Stuck In Books for coordinating this hop.

Check out my pictures of South Korea on my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at these links (my family visited my husband in May/June 2013 at the end of his one year tour at Osan Air Base).

Aloha from Korea! link
Aloha to Songtan - A Shopping Adventure link
Aloha from Korea - Task Force Smith Heritage Trail link
Aloha to Seoul - Itaewon Shopping District link
Aloha to the Seoul Fortress and Deoksugung Palace link
Commemorating Memorial Day in the Republic of Korea link
Aloha to the Bosingak Belfry and Bell Ringing Ceremony link
Aloha to the Han River - Gangnam Style link
Aloha to the Jogyesa Buddhist Temple link
Aloha to the Gyeongbok Royal Palace link
Aloha to Tapgol Park, National Treasures, and Insadong Shopping link
Snapshots from Seoul (part 1) link
Snapshots from Seoul (part 2) link
Honoring the DMZ - Imjingak link
Honoring the DMZ - Tunnel No. 3 link
Honoring the DZM - Dora Observatory link
Honoring the DMZ - Dorason Station link
Honoring the DMZ - Joint Security Area link
Aloha to Korea - Squadron Spirit! link
Aloha (goodbye) Seoul - The Soul of Asia link

19 comments:

  1. The cuisine and shopping are enough for me to want to visit South Korea.

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  2. Would liken to,vistitmp them
    Kimh

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  3. I have not visited any of these, but London is on my travel wish list.

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  4. Never visited any of these places....but I do know a lot about London from what I read in books.

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  5. My husband and I went to Jamaica for our honeymoon many years ago.

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  6. I've been to London and the Caribbean and although quite different, I enjoyed them both. I would love to visit S. Korea some day but we haven't traveled in a very long time.

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  7. I have visited some islands in the Caribbean....great snorkeling. And we were just in London this past Sept. London is now one of my favorite cities. It was fabulous. So much to see there.

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  8. I have not visited any of these places, but I would love to go to London.

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  9. I went to all these 3 places. My favorite is london. Korea is too crowded and carribean is too relaxing. ... London is just right.

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  10. I really do not know much about these places. I have never been to any of these places.

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  11. I have been to London but not to the Caribbean or South Korea. I love to travel and want to go everywhere. :)

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  12. I've never been anywhere...so sad. But, I'd LOVE to go to London!

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  13. been to two of the three

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  14. I've been to the Caribbean for my honeymoon! St. Lucia was gorgeous and I hope to visit there again one day! I have not been to London but hope to one day. Thanks! saltsnmore at yahoo dot com

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  15. South Korea has amazing food. Falling into the Caribbean with your normal clothes on is unpleasant. I know nothing about any "London"

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  16. I have been to London, but not the other two!! I'd love to "travel" via these books though. ;)

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  17. I have never been anywhere but I've seen every episode and movie of M*A*S*H and I love the musical South Pacific

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  18. I have not visited any of these places, but I would love to go to London to see all the historical sights.

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  19. I have not visited any of these places. But, I do love K-Pop music.

    bookaholicholly at gmail dot com

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